Lakeshore Tae Kwon Do

09/13/2026

Another Lakeshore tradition continues September 19! 🌊

Since 2012, Lakeshore Tae Kwon Do students, families and friends have joined the Friends of the Manitowoc River Watershed for their community beach cleanups.

Red Arrow Beach has become our beach.

Lakeshore has been assigned to Red Arrow for many years, and our students and families have returned season after season to help care for the largest public beach in the Manitowoc area.

This year it will be especially nice to return. The City of Manitowoc completed a major renovation of the beach and park facilities this summer. During our spring cleanup, construction was still underway and our volunteers worked around the areas being renovated.

Saturday, September 19
Cleanup begins at 10:00 AM
Lakeshore group: Red Arrow Beach, Manitowoc

Please arrive about 15 minutes early. We're usually finished in about an hour.

Friends and family members are welcome — you don't have to be a Lakeshore student to help.

The Friends of the Manitowoc River Watershed provides nitrile gloves, buckets, pickup sticks and trash bags. If you prefer work gloves, please bring your own. Dress in layers, too — it can be considerably cooler along the lake.

Lakeshore students and families can sign up at the school.

Members of the public can call or text Kim at 920-242-1993 to volunteer.

An adult must be present at the event to sign the required participation permission slip for minors.

The community-wide cleanup also includes Silver Creek Park Beach, University Beach, Lakefront Beach, YMCA Beach and Lighthouse Park Beach.

Community service has been an important part of Lakeshore for many years. Martial arts isn't only about what we learn on the training floor. It's also about learning to step forward, help others and take responsibility for the community around us.

We'd love to have you join us September 19!

09/08/2026

Some things take years to build.

When you look at a belt graduation at Lakeshore, it's easy to focus on the students receiving their new ranks.

But there's another part of the picture we're pretty proud of.

Some of the instructors standing behind these students have been part of Lakeshore Tae Kwon Do for decades — first as students themselves, and now helping teach another generation.

One of our instructors began training at Lakeshore at around 10 years old. Nearly 30 years later, she is a 6th Degree Black Belt and is still here teaching.

Another has been part of Lakeshore for about 20 years and is now a 5th Degree Black Belt.

That's something you can't create overnight.

Martial arts is certainly about learning kicks, blocks and self-defense. But over time, it's also about perseverance, confidence, responsibility and eventually passing what you've learned on to someone else.

That's been happening at Lakeshore for more than 45 years.

And we're still building the next generation

09/06/2026

Community service has been part of what we do at Lakeshore for a long time.

On Saturday, September 19, our students and families will once again join the Friends of the Manitowoc River Watershed for their fall beach cleanup. We've been working with the group on these cleanups since 2012.

Over the years, this has become more than simply picking up litter. It gives our students a chance to put leadership and service into practice outside the Tae Kwon Do school.

The cleanup runs from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM at Manitowoc-area beaches. FMRW provides the cleanup supplies; dress in layers and bring your own work gloves if you prefer them.

Our Red Arrow Clean up Starts at 10:00 AM and we usually finish in about and hour.

Want to help? Call or text Kim at 920-242-1993 to sign up.

We're looking forward to another good morning of working together for our community.

08/31/2026

Walk for Animals is back for September! 🐾

Two years ago, when Mrs. Anna Peltier was preparing for her 5th Degree Black Belt test, she created a service project called Walk for Animals to support the Lakeshore Humane Society.

This September, she's bringing it back!

Throughout the month, Lakeshore students and families are invited to walk—with friends, family, or even your dogs—and keep track of your miles. Walking logs will be available at the school.

At the end of September, turn your completed log in to Mr. Weber, Miss Cogswell, or Mrs. Peltier.

We'll recognize two walking champions:

🏆 Top Adult Walker — $25 Amazon gift card
🏆 Top Child Walker — $25 Amazon gift card

But the bigger purpose is helping the animals in our community.

We'll also have a donation box at Lakeshore throughout September for items for the Lakeshore Humane Society.

This project began as part of Mrs. Peltier's Black Belt journey, and we're very happy to see her continuing it two years later.

So grab your walking shoes, bring the family—and don't forget the dog! 🐕🐾

Walking begins September 1.

08/24/2026

Sometimes confidence starts with simply being willing to try.

This photo is from one of our Bring a Buddy Days. Miss Cogswell is working with one of the groups as the kids get a chance to experience Tae Kwon Do.

For some children, walking onto a Tae Kwon Do floor and trying something new comes easily. For others, it takes a little courage.

That's one of the things we've always enjoyed watching.

A child tries a technique. Maybe it doesn't work the first time. They try again. Then comes that smile when they realize, “I can do this.”

Those little moments matter.

Confidence doesn't appear overnight. It grows one small victory at a time.

And sometimes the first victory is simply being willing to give something new a try. 🥋

08/20/2026

What can happen when a 9-year-old sticks with Tae Kwon Do?

On April 24, 1996, 9-year-old Nichole Cogswell began Tae Kwon Do at Lakeshore.

Thirty years later, she's still here.

We've had the privilege of watching Nichole grow from a young beginner into a confident and responsible adult, an instructor, and eventually a 6th Degree Black Belt.

But the rank is only part of the story.

Nichole has spent years helping teach and encourage the students coming up behind her. She's become a leader at Lakeshore, in her career, and in our community.

She has also helped lead many of our community-service projects, including organizing Kick for a Cure, which has raised tens of thousands of dollars over the years to help local cancer patients.

That's one of the special things about teaching Tae Kwon Do for more than 45 years. Sometimes you get to see where the journey leads.

A 9-year-old walks through the door to learn Tae Kwon Do...

and years later, she's helping teach the next generation.

We're very proud of you, Miss Cogswell.

08/07/2026

🔍 BEHIND THE SCENES

A Day in the Dojang

Ever wonder what a day here actually looks like?

☀️ Morning — Instructors review class plans and set intentions for who they want to be for their students today.

🥋 Afternoon classes — Little Dragons running, laughing, learning to bow. The energy is electric.

🌙 Evening sessions — Advanced students drilling forms, partners pushing each other, the kind of focused silence that only happens when people are truly in it.

🧹 End of day — Students help clean the mat. Always. Because respect for the Dojang is part of the training.

This is what we live for. Every. Single. Day.

08/04/2026

https://laketkd.wordpress.com/2019/08/06/back-to-school-tips-for-parents/ -3034

Back to School Tips for Parents Summertime is coming to an end, and with that comes all of the back to school anxiety and jitters that are common amongst children. Your child may experience common …